Lot 1046 Dα

A broad path leads diagonally into the left of the painting, beside an inn and large well surrounded by tall trees in the centre. A herd of cattle has halted by the well, and the cowherds are shown drawing water for them, watched over by a further cowherd on horseback. The piece is included in Wolfgang Stechow's catalogue raissoné as an unsigned and undated work of the late 1630s (“Golden brown palette, late 1630s”, Stechow from the German, 1975, p. 100). Later cleaning revealed the possibly overpainted signature and date of 1644 which is visible today.
The motif is typical of Salomon van Ruysdael's landscapes, which often show herds of cattle before inns and watering places. The artist developed the motif in the 1630s and continued to paint it throughout his career, a fact which proves its ongoing popularity. The present image is an excellent example of this group of works, displaying the typical closeness to nature and generous, panoramic landscape. These effects are mainly achieved through the work's diagonal composition, with the path taking up almost the entire width of the painting and pulling one's gaze into the composition. The low horizon is also typical of Ruysdael's landscapes, and it provided him with the space needed to depict the fleeting effects of light and wind upon the environment. In contrast to the artist's earlier works, the palette is much lighter, and he has exchanged the cooler tones of green, blue and grey for a warm brown.